{{Short description|Species of lizard}} {{Speciesbox | image = Brachymeles miriamae 84496008.jpg | image_caption = ''Brachymeles miriamae'' in Udom Sap, Wang Nam Khiao, Thailand | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>Thaksintham W, Cota M, Sumontha M (2018). "''Brachymeles miriamae''". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T104719268A104719277.en. Accessed on 18 October 2025.</ref> | genus = Brachymeles | species = miriamae | authority = (Heyer, 1972)<ref name=RDB>{{EMBL species|genus=Brachymeles|species=miriamae}}. www.reptile-database.org.</ref> | synonyms = *''Davewakeum miriamae'' <br/>{{small|Heyer, 1972}} *''Brachymeles miriamae'' <br/>{{small|— Siler et al., 2011}} *''Davewakeum miriamae'' <br/>{{small|— Chan-ard et al., 2015}} *''Brachymeles miriamae'' <br/>{{small|— Cota et al., 2022}} | synonyms_ref = <ref name=RDB/> }}

'''Miriam's skink''' ('''''Brachymeles miriamae''''') is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae (skinks). The species is endemic to Thailand.

==Taxonomy== In 1972 Heyer described Miriam's skink as a new species in a new genus, giving it the scientific name ''Davewakeum miriamae''.<ref name=Heyer1972>Heyer (1972).</ref> In 2011 Siler et al. included the genus ''Davewakeum'' in the genus ''Brachymeles'', creating the new combination, ''Brachymeles miriamae'' {{small|(Heyer, 1972)}}.<ref>Siler CD, Diesmos AC, Alcala AC, Brown RM (2011). "Phylogeny of Philippine slender skinks (Scincidae: ''Brachymeles'') reveals underestimated species diversity, complex biogeographical relationships, and cryptic patterns of lineage diversification". ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''59''' (1): 53-65.</ref> In 2015 Chan-ard et al. returned the species to the genus ''Davewakeum''.<ref name=RDB/> In 2022 Cota et al. reassigned the species to the genus ''Brachymeles''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cota |first1=Michael |last2=Makchai |first2=Sunchai |author2-link=species:Sunchai Makchai |last3=Pongcharoen |first3=Chattraphas |title=Updated Catalogue of the Amphibian and Reptile Type Specimens of the Natural History Specimens, National Science Museum, Thailand |journal=Thai Specimens |date=2022 |volume=21 |pages=31–47}} (''Brachymeles miriamae'', pp. 43–44).</ref>

==Etymology== The specific name, ''miriamae'', is in honor of Miriam Heyer, who collected the holotype, and is married to American herpetologist W. Ronald Heyer.<ref name=EDR>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Genus ''Davewakeum'', pp. 66, 278–279; species ''D. miriamae'', p. 179).</ref>

The generic name, ''Davewakeum'', is in honor of American herpetologist David B. Wake.<ref name=EDR/>

==Geographic range== Miriam's skink is found in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand.<ref name=RDB/>

==Habitat== The preferred natural habitat of ''Brachymeles miriamae'' is forest.<ref name=iucn/>

==Behavior== ''Brachymeles miriamae'' is terrestrial and fossorial.<ref name=iucn/>

==Description== Miriam's skink is limbless.<ref name=Heyer1972/>

==Reproduction== ''Brachymeles miriamae'' is viviparous.<ref name=RDB/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Chan-ard, Tanya; Parr, John W. K.; Nabhitabhata, Jarujin (2015). ''A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand''. New York: Oxford University Press. 352 pp. {{ISBN|978-0199876181}}. *Heyer WR (1972). "A New Limbless Skink (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Thailand With Comments on the Generic Status of the Limbless Skinks of Southeast Asia". ''Fieldiana Zoology'' '''58''' (10): 109–129. (''Davewakeum'', new genus, p.&nbsp;124, Figures 4–5; ''D. miriamae'', new species, pp.&nbsp;124–128, Figure 7).

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Category:Brachymeles Category:Lizards of Thailand Category:Endemic fauna of Thailand Category:Reptiles described in 1972 Category:Taxa named by William Ronald Heyer

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